Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[Groovychook]

I always wanted to make an Advent wreath but again didn't have the materials......obviously a deprived child

Was that the thing that was made with metal coat hangers? I remember desperately wanting to make one of those!!

[LolaLayla]

I always wanted to make an Advent wreath but again didn't have the materials......obviously a deprived child

Was that the thing that was made with metal coat hangers? I remember desperately wanting to make one of those!!

Yes. I don't think we had metal coat hangers and if we had my mum would not have let me ruin 2 I wonder how many house fires were caused by one of those

I always wanted a Blue Peter badge too

[Groovychook]

Yes. I don't think we had metal coat hangers and if we had my mum would not have let me ruin 2

I think that's the line my Mum would have taken too, although she might well have been worried about us all burning to a crisp!

[The Dogmother]

No don't remember that one I was always trying to make things but my parents rationed things like sellotape etc. I really wanted the sticky backed plastic I always wanted to make an Advent wreath but again didn't have the materials......obviously a deprived child

 

Next time you're dahn sarf, come to see me and we'll have a Blue Peter session. I had a badge, can't remember what for though

[Redwing]

broody cages - I'm going to be a bit grumpy here but I breed bantams including Silkies and Pekins and have never had to resort to a broody cage, just keep turfing them off the nest and they'll break eventually

[mollyripkim]

I am really glad you said that as it is my feeling too, I tried it once for a couple of days but didn't like it. I have silkies too and just turf them off several times a day, maybe it's easier as I work from home. My breeder also disagrees with both cages and dunking in water too.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree if you can turf them off manually, that's a much nicer way to break the broodiness but if you're not around to do that a broody cage can be useful.

[LolaLayla]

I do not seem to be having any luck with turfing her off the nest box. As soon as I take her off she does a circuit of the garden, clucking all the time, eats a bit of grass and then is back in the nest box. I don't want her to become ill

[mollyripkim]

My worst offender, Cilla, tries to do that for a couple of days so I just shut the nest box off for an hour. Then she gets less persistent and each time I turf her out she spends longer off the nest. I think it helps that she is particularly greedy and I make sure she eats and drinks.

I know this isn,t a solution that works for everyone as I work from home and it's a good excuse to come out of the office. I have used this method since having the girls, all silkies, except one, and they have been fine.

I hope yours gets on ok.

[The Dogmother]

I do not seem to be having any luck with turfing her off the nest box. As soon as I take her off she does a circuit of the garden, clucking all the time, eats a bit of grass and then is back in the nest box. I don't want her to become ill

 

Exactly what any of my broodies do - I find that the broody cage is the best idea.

[Redwing]

Dont get me wrong I dont think that the broody cage is a bad idea I just have never had to use one despite the large numbers of broodies I get each year!

 

I work full time so am not around to turf them off the nest constantly but I have found that by turfing them off a couple of times a day and making sure no eggs are left in the nest that the bird loses interest quite quickly

[LolaLayla]

If I shut off the nest box it means there is nowhere for Estelle to go to lay her egg. Trixie seems to forget for a few minutes when in the garden and then goes back to the eglu and round and round the run looking for an entrance. Sometimes she is sitting down on the grass. I will try to keep her off but I am a bit worried about both of them. Will Estelle just lay her egg somewhere in the garden I will try to keep her off today but if all else fails I will need to use the crate.

[Groovychook]

If I shut off the nest box it means there is nowhere for Estelle to go to lay her egg.

That's the problem I always face... I worry about the other girls being inconvenienced!

If I'm around all day, I'll try the turfing them off the nest method, but my girls are so persistent- it's only worked on one occasion!

 

My chooks have never shown any interest in laying anywhere else than the nestbox. They don't like it one bit if they can't get in there. I have to choose my moment carefully when cleaning out the cube for that very reason- they go bananas if they can't go about their business!!

 

Best of luck, but if you're still struggling with her after today, I'd pop her in the crate...

[LolaLayla]

Found her sitting in the garden and moved her away. Seems Estelle had laid her egg and Trixie sat on it. While I was moving her Lola and Layla zoomed in and started to eat the egg I don't want them to start that nonsense so had to fill the egg with mustard. They had a go at the egg again but it certainly put them off. Hopefully for good. Trixie is sitting down again. She just will not stay standing. Must have moved her a least 6 times and its not lunchtime yet

[Redwing]

Are you sure she is broody? its not very normal for a broody hen to sit exposed in a run, they nromally try to find a nestbox or at least a dark corner

[The Dogmother]

She just will not stay standing. Must have moved her a least 6 times and its not lunchtime yet

 

one of mine seems to lose the use of her legs when she's broody - it's a bit like when you stop pushing a wheelbarrow - it just stays where you've left it! If I move her down the end of the garden, she will either just sit there or run back to the nest box, she even once sat to brood in the dust bath... but then she is the MOST persistent offender

[Groovychook]

My girl just collapses flat as a pancake wherever I put her too...

[The Dogmother]

I feel a bit like that today

[Groovychook]

I feel a bit like that today

Oh dear!

Maybe some cage rest would do you good!!

[The Dogmother]

any sort of rest would be fine

[LolaLayla]

Are you sure she is broody? its not very normal for a broody hen to sit exposed in a run, they nromally try to find a nestbox or at least a dark corner

I am sure she is as if I lift her off the nest box she starts making a noise and has to be pushed out. If I close the eglu door she will sit as close as she can to the door which is in the darkest corner of the run (it is dark as it is under bushes and has the winter cover on). If I manage to push her out she makes a terrible noise and goes off still making the noise. Then she sits (next to the run under bushes) or circles it trying to get in. She even squared up to one of the hybrids who was standing in the spot where she had previously been sitting, next to the run, as if she was defending the area Her behaviour is totally different to the other Silkie I have and is not how it was a week ago. After a morning of trying everything she is now in the crate. She was not happy at first but is settled now and is a lot less distressed than she was this morning

[Chortle Chook]

I admit that I'd always considered the broody cage idea to be rather cruel, second only to the dunking which I'm certain is cruel. The idea of suspending the poor bird up in the air to swing away must be unkind as chickens seem to hate things that move (not keen on the swing I have given them at all, unlike my doves). However, having seen the pictures on here of what you use, I'm converted to your type of broody cage. I do the constant hoik thing and collect any eggs quickly, but my silkies still sit out the 3 weeks so I'm going to get one of those wire cat basket things to put on some bricks. It'll also help keep my nest box area for those who want to lay eggs rather than letting one broody Silkie hog it all.

[The Dogmother]

I'm afraid that silkies are the worst culprits for brooding, closely followed by pekins and orpingtons

 

Not many folks suspend them these days CC, but my grandfolks' chooks seemed happy enough like that. Lavinia is happy in her crate and certainly more so than being glued to the nest in her self-imposed anorexic state she still gets to natter to her friends and give them cheek.

[LolaLayla]

Trixie is sitting in her crate and seems very content. Everyone is happy

[Chortle Chook]

Do you leave them overnight in their cage? Would it not be a bit cold?